Method for making slide-action repeating firearms



Jan. 16, 1951 c. G. SWEBILIUS 2,538,173

METHOD FOR MAKING sunmxcnou REPEATING FIREARMS I Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 02v? A?! M JWAM 5 Mi /4% -ACTION REPEATI-NG FIREARMS Jan. 16', 1951 c, G. SWEBILIUS METHOD FOR MAKING SLIDE Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented jan. 16, 1951 OFFICE METHOD FOR MAKING SLIDE-ACTION REPEATING FIREARMS care. Swebilius, Haiiian, Conn. Application March 26, 1947,- SerialNo. 737,353

2 Claims. (01. 297-148 The present invention relates in general to firearms and more especially to an improved method and means for forming the action-slide assembly and receiver of the firearm.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved action-slide assembly for a slide-action repeating firearm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slide-action firearm with an improved actionslide assembly wherein the fore end 01"- the assembly is supported by the action-slides only for reciprocable movement injuxtaposition tothe barrel. 1

A further object of the invention is'to provide a slide-action firearm with an improved actionslide assembly wherein the action-slides have substantially-semicy1indrical surfaces arranged to be slidably supported in suitable guide-grooves of substantially-similar cross section in the receiver. F1 1 A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing the receiver of a slide-action repeating firearm such as to effect an economy of manufacture andinsure coaction with and reliable operation-of the breech-action mounted in the receiver.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing the receiver of a slide-action firearm wherein the completed receiver is formed from a substantiallysolid blank in a minimum number'of operations.

A still further object of the invention is to-provide an improved method of manufacturing the receiver of a slide-action firearm wherein the receiver is formed from a substantially-solid receiver-blank by boring a series of longitudinal apertures through the blank and thereafter milling out a slot therein so as to intersect the longitudinally-bored apertures and thereby to simultaneously form a chamber to accommodate the breech-action and fire-control mechanism of the firearm and guide-grooves in opposite walls of the chamber for slidingly supporting the actionslides.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application. y

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation partly in section of a slide-action repeating firearm embody-'- ing the improved receiver and action-slide foreend assembly of this invention, the breech-bolt being shown in breech-closing position;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. l but with the bolt and the fore-end and action-slide assembly associated therewith in the positions these parts assume when the bolt is at the end of its rearward excursion in the receiver;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional end elevation of thefore end and barrel of the firearm on line 3- -3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional end elevation of the-front wall of the receiver on section line i-'4 of Fi 1;

-Fi'g: 5 is an enlarged sectional end elevation of the receiver on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation in section of the actionslide assembly of the firearm shown in Fig. 1; Fig. '7 is aplan view of the action-slide assembly shown in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the action-slide assembly shown in Figs. 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional end elevation of the actionslides on line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation partly in section of the receiver-blank from which the receiver of the firearm is formed in accordance with the improved steps of this invention, the initial steps of which are indicated by the dotted lines;

Fig. 11 is a right-handend elevation of the blank shown' in Fig. 10; i

Fig. 12' is a sectional end elevation of the blank on line l2|2 of Fig. 10;

i Fig. 13 is a side elevation partly in section of the receiver-blank after the latter has been channeled to form the bolt-chamber and the action-slide slots in opposite walls thereof;

--Fig. 14 is a plan view in section of the receiver on the line l4-l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an end elevation in section of the re- Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line l'|-I'l of For the purpose of disclosing the present invention, the latter will be described and illus- --trated as embodied ina slide-action repeating firearm, but it'will be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto but may be embodied in other firearms of a similar type.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the particular firea'r hereinchosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention comprises, in general, a

receiver II], a buttstock II mounted at the rear end of the receiver, and a barrel I2 secured to the forward end thereof. Detachably secured to the underside of the receiver is a trigger-plate indicated generally at I3, and a box-magazine I4. Supported beneath the barrel I 2 and extending longitudinally thereof is the action-slide assembly indicated generally at I5 and comprising a pair of action-slides I6 and a fore end I'I, the action-slides I6 being adapted to extend rearwardly through a pair of laterally-spaced guideapertures in the front wall of the receiver and to be pivotally connected at their rear extremities by a pivot-pin I8 to the depending tongue I9 of the breech-bolt 20. The pivot-pin I8 is adapted to extend through a rocker-shaped cam-slot 2I in the tongue I9 of the breech-bolt so that when the action-slide assembly is in its normal forward position, the front face of the breechbolt will be held against the breech-end of the barrel I2, with the rear end of the breech-bolt in locked engagement with a shoulder 22 formed on the underside of the top wall of the receiver.

A suitable action-slide locking-lever 23 is pivotally supported in the trigger-plate L3 and provided with a forwardly-extending reach 24 having a beveled end adapted normally to engage behind the rear end of the corresponding actionslide to lock the latter against rearward movement, the locking-lever being adapted to be operated either manually to unlock the action-slide or automatically by the forwardly-swinging hammer 25 on discharge of the firearm. In the latter instance, a shoulder of the hammer is adapted to engage a resilient arm of the .action- 5 slide locking-lever to depress the forward end thereof out of the path of movement of the corresponding action-slide so as to permit the actionslide assembly to be moved rearwardly.

The trigger-plate also carries the fire-control mechanism comprising, in the main, the pivoted hammer 25 and a pivoted trigger 26. In the present embodiment, the latter is provided with a forwardly-extending nose-portion (not shown) arranged to engage suitable cocking-shoulders formed on the hub-portion of the hammer to hold the latter in its cocked position. Formed-at the rear end of the trigger-plate I3, either as an integral part thereof or otherwise permanently secured thereto, is a stop-plate 21 which projects upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the trigger-plateand is of an area corresponding substantially to the area of the forward end of the wooden buttstock I I, the latter being adapted to be fastened securely .to the stop-plate 21, whereby the trigger-plate I3 and buttstock I I constitute a single unit adapted to be mounted on the receiver of the firearm. In this connection, the vertical sides of the trigger-plate I3 are provided along their upper edges with longitudinal external flanges 28 which are substantially rectangular in cross section, see Fig. -5, and adapted to slidingly engage in suitable slots in thewalls of the receiver to detachably mount thetriggerplate thereto.

Turning now to the receiver I0, the improved construction and method of manufacture of which are features of the present invention and shown in detail in Figs. through ef the drawings, the receiver I0 comprises substantially an inverted-U-shaped member embodying substantially-vertical side walls'30 and 3I respectively and a top wall 32, the underside of which is provided with the aforesaid stop-shoulder 22. The rear end of the receiver :is open, i. e, there '4 is no rear wall, whereas the front end of the receiver is provided with a vertical relativelythick front wall 33. The latter is adapted to support the rear end of the barrel I 2 and to this end is formed with an internally-threaded aperture 34, the geometrical center of which is coincident with the vertical axis of the receiver and in the upper part of the front wall thereof. Located in the front wall 33 below the barrel-receiving aperture 34 and at opposite sides of the center thereof, are a pair of substantiallysmooth-bored cylindrical guide-apertures 35, the geometrical centers of which lie in a horizontal plane at right angles to the vertical axis of the receiver and in vertical planes which are mutually parallel and spaced apart laterally substantially-equal distances on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the receiver. The apertures 35 are adapted to receive the action-slides I6 of the action-slide assembly I5 and to guide said slides during the reciprocable movement of said assembly. The inside of the receiver constitutes a chamber indicated generally at 36, which extends uninterruptedly from the rear face of the vertical front wall 33 of the receiver rearwardly to the rear end thereof, The upper portion of the chamber 36 constitutes a longitudinal bore .31 having a subs-tantially-cylindrical surface of revolution, the forward end of which is coincident with the cylindrical aperture 34 in the front wall .33, the longitudinal axis of the bore 31 being in the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the receiver and parallel thereto. The upper wall of the bore 31 constitutes the underside of the top wall of the receiver and is provided with a relief-recess adjacent the forward end of the receiver, to form the aforesaid breech-bolt lockping-shoulder 22. The lower portion of the chamber 36 constitutes a substantially-vertical channel 38, the upper and lower portions of which intersect the bottom wall of the bore 31 and the bottom of the receiver respectively, while the sides of the channel 38 define the spaced-parallel substantially-vertical inside walls of the receiver. It will be noted on reference to Figs. 5 and 15 that the width of the upper portion of the channel 38 is less than the width of its lower portion, as a consequence of which the upper inside faces 39 and 40 respectively of the receiver walls are spaced apart laterally a distance less than the lateral distance between the lower inside faces III and 42 of the walls, the lateral spacing of the inside faces 4| and 42 corresponding substantially to the width of the trigger-plate, as indi- .cated in Fig. 5. The right-hand side 3I of the trigger-plate is adapted to be provided with an ejection-port 43, and transverse apertures 44 are formed in each side wall adjacent the lower edges thereof and in axial alignment to accommodate an assembly-screw 45 which is adapted to secure the trigger-plate to the receiver.

Formed in the walls of the receiver intermediate the upper and lower inside faces thereof are the action-slide guide-grooves 46 and 4'1 respectively, each of which extends from the rear end of the receiver forwardly through the front wall thereof, the front ends thereof being coincident with the cylindrical action-slide guideapertures 35 therein. The portion of each guidegroove rearwardly of the front wall 33 of the receiver constitutes a cylindrical surface of revolution, the open side of which faces inwardly and communicates laterally with the channel 33. In this connection, it will be noted that the longitudinal center line of each guide-groove 46 and 4! respectively is displaced laterally outwardly from the vertical planes of the corresponding inside faces 33, 4| and 40, and 42 respectively of the receiver, as a consequence of which the cylindrical surface of revolution of each guide-groove exceeds a semi-circle and circumscribes an angle of approximately 220.

The outer walls 30 and 31 of the receiver opposite the guide-grooves 46 and 41 respectively are adapted to be reinforced by integral longitudinal ribs 48 and 43 respectively, the ribs being formed preferably by planing-off or otherwise removing excess metal from the outer faces of the walls 30 and 3! of the receiver, both above and below the longitudinal ribbed portions 48 and 4'9.

Formed in the lower inside faces 4| and 42 of the receiver immediately below the guide-grooves 45 and 4?, are longitudinal coupling-grooves 50 and 5| respectively, each of which is substantially rectangular in cross section and extends from the rear end of the receiver forwardly to a point therein slightly beyond the aperture 53 of the assembly-screw. The grooves 55 and 5| are adapted to receive the longitudinal external flanges 23 of corresponding cross section of the trigger-plate i3 for detachably assembling the latter in the bottom of the receiver.

It will be appreciated that the construction of a receiver embodying the chamber 36, actionslide guide-grooves 46 and 41, and trigger-plate coupling-grooves 50 and 5| in the relationship and of the configuration described above, by known methods, would be an exceptionally tedious and expensive operation. The present invention features the discovery of an improved method of forming a receiver of the kind described which is performed in a minimum number of operations and by relatively-inexpensive rapid techniques.

Preferably, the receiver is formed from a solid receiver-blank which is substantially rectangular in cross section, the initial operations being those of roughing-out the radius on the top of the receiver, and the longitudinal reinforcing-ribs 4'8 and t?) on the outer faces of the side walls 35 and 35 thereof. ihereafter, the receiver-blank is supported rigidly while longitudinal apertures are bored therethrough, see Fig. 12, these'longitudinal apertures corresponding to the bore 31 and the two longitudinal guide-grooves 46 and ll. As pointed out above, the forward ends of these longitudinal apertures are coincident with the cylindrical apertures 34 and 35-35 respectively in the front wall 33 of the receiver-blank, as indicated in Fig. 11. Although the preferred sequence of operations is to bore or drill the two guide-groove apertures 45 and 41 and then the bore 3?, the latter may be formed first. Following the boring or drilling of the aforesaid apertures and subsequent finishing operations to provide the latter with smooth walls, a suitable milling tool or equivalent device is run into the receiver-blank from the rear end thereof and forwardly to form the longitudinal channel 38'which intersects the bottom of the receiver-blank and which terminates at a suitable distances rearward-1y of the front end of the blank so as to provide the front-wall portion 33 thereof. The milling operation for forming the channel 38 may be a single operatio but is preferably performed by multiple operations so as to insure greater accuracy in forming the variation in width between the upper and lower portions of the channel. In milling out the channel 38, the bottom wall of the longitudinal bore 31 and the inner 6 walls of the longitudinal guide-groove apertures 46 and Mare cut away so that the bore and guide-groove apertures communicate with the channel 38 toform the chamber 36 of the receiver. Following the aforesaid operations, the ejection-port 43 is milled in the right-hand wall 3! of the receiver, and the axially-aligned assembly-screw apertures 44 are formed in the lower edges of the side walls. It will be appreciated that the steps of boring or drilling the longitudinal apertures 31 and 45 and 4'! respectively through the receiver-blank are relatively simple and inexpensive operations, and when combined with a relatively-simple milling operation, the consummation of which substantially completes the construction of the receiver-chamber, the manufacture of the receiver is reduced to a minimum number of relatively-inexpensive operations.

Featured in conjunction with the improved receiver and method of making the same is an improved action-s'lide assembly (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8) indicated generally at 15, and comprising the wooden fore-end member H and action-slides [5. The fore end I! has the usual external beavertail shape and is provided on its top side with a longitudinalrecess indicated generally at 52, the forward half 53 of which is substantially semicircular in cross section and arranged to be concentric with the barrel l2 when assembled therewith. The radius of the semicircular recess 53 is greater than the radius of the forward end of the barrel l2 so as to provide clearance for the underside thereof. As indicated in Fig. '7, the rear half of the recess 52 is widened laterally in two successive steps as indicated at 54 and 55 respectively, so as to provide clearance for the enlarged rear end of the barrel and the forward end of the receiver when the fore end is fully retracted to its position shown in Fig. 2.

These laterally-widened portions 54 and 55 of the fore end are each provided with a correspond ing vertically-recessed cut 55 and 5'! respectively,

the former comprising a cylindrical surface of.

revolution, the upper wall of which intersects the widened portion 54 of the fore end. The cut 51 adjacent the rear extremity of the fore end is substantially rectangular in cross section, corresponding in shape to the shape of the forward end of the receiver, and is provided with a longitudinal roove 58 in each of its vertical walls which extend forwardly into the semicylindrical walls of the cut 56 to provide clearance for the forward ends of the reinforcing-ribs 48 and 49 of the receiver.

. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the fore end I? is adapted to be secured to the action-slides 16 of the assembly by means of a crosshead 59. The latter comprises a substantially-solid block, the upper face 60 of which is formed with a cylindrical surface of revolution corresponding substantially in curvature to that of the laterally-widened portion 54 in the top side of the fore end. The

opposite sides 6| and 62 of the crosshead also comprise cylindrical surfaces of revolution, the radii of which are substantially equal to the radius of the vertical semicylindrical recess 55 of the widened portion 54 of the fore end, whereby the crosshead is adapted to make a snug fit therein, as indicated clearly in Fig. 3. The bottom of the crosshead is provided with a longitudinal recess 63 which is substantially rectangular in cross section and adapted to reduce the weight of the crosshead. A transverse aperture 64 extends through the respective sides 6! and 62 of the crosshead and is in alignment with apertures 65 in the corresponding sides of the fore end. An assembly-pin 66 is adapted to extend transversely through the axially-aligned apertures 64 and 65 to detachably secure the fore end to the crosshead of the action-slide assembly. The actionslides N5, of which there are two in the present embodiment, are adapted to be connected at their forward ends to the crosshead 59, and to this end the opposite sides BI and 62 of the crosshead are provided with longitudinal recesses 61 adapted to receive the forward ends of the action-slides, the latter being secured in the recesses by a soldered or welded joint. The outer faces of the forward ends of the action-slides are suitably machined so as to have the semicylindrical contour of the outer faces of the crosshead.

Referrin particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, the action-slides i6 comprise substantially-semicylindrical members, the inner faces 68 of which constitute planar surfaces, Whereas the outer face 69 of each rod constitutes a semicylindrical surface of revolution. The width of the crosshead 59 is such that the action-slides I6 are spaced apart laterally a distance corresponding to the distance between the centers of the guide-apertures 35 in the front wall of the receiver, so that the action-slides it may make a smooth sliding fit therein with their semicylindrical outer surfaces engaging the semicylindrical surfaces of the corresponding guide-grooves 46 and 41. Moreover, it will be appreciated that inasmuch as the arc circumscribed by the semicylindrical surfaces of revolution of the guide-grooves 4B and 41 is greater than 180, that portion of the curved surface of each guide-groove which extends inwardly beyond the vertical plane of the inner face 68 of its respective action-slide serves to restrain the latter from moving inwardly laterally out of contact with its guide-groove.

The rear ends of the action-slides IE are each provided with an inwardly-projecting substantially-rectangular lug t0, the inner vertical faces of which are adapted to be spaced apart laterally a distance which is slightly greater than the width of the tongue-portion I9 of the breech-bolt, a transverse aperture 7! being formed in the lug at the end of each action-slide andin axial alignment so as to receive the pivot-pin l8 which is adapted to pivotally secure the action-slides to the breech-bolt. Further, the rear extremity of each action-slide is provided with a beveled surface 12 which slopes upwardly and rearwardly, the slope corresponding substantially to the slope of the stop-plate 27 of the trigger-plate, for the purpose hereinafter described.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that due to the relative stiffness which is inherent in the action-slides it; because of their semicylindrical structure, the fore end may be and is supported for longitudinal movement beneath the barrel and in juxtaposition to the underside thereof by the action-slides only. Moreover, the aforesaid semicylindrical surfaces of these action-slides have been found to make a highly satisfactory bearing with the semicylindrical surfaces of the guide-grooves in the receiver, so that the action of the fore end is exceptionally smooth and free from sloppiness. Further, the increased rigidity which is built into the actionslides because of their semicylindrical construction permits the action-slides to take the full force of checking the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, this end thrust being taken on the beveled ends 12 of the action-slides by engagement of the latter with the stop-plate 21.

Although the action-slides shown in Figs. 1 through 9 are substantially semicylindrical throughout their length, it will be understood that a portion only of the action-slides may comprise semicylindrical surfaces and, in particular, those portions of the slides which are adapted to slidingly engage in the guide-grooves of the receiver.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 1'7, a modification of the crosshead and action-slide assembly is shown in which each action-slide 13 comprises a bar which is substantially rectangular in cross section at is forward end, the rear end of each slide embodying a relatively-short semicylindrical portion 14 adapted to engage in the guide-grooves of the receiver. The forward ends of the actionslides 13 are adapted to be received in longitudinal slots of corresponding cross section in the outer faces of the side walls of a crosshead 15, the sides 16 of which constitute substantially-vertical planar surfaces. The forward ends of the action-slides are secured in the recesses in the planar sides 16 of the crosshead 15 by a soldered or welded joint.

In accordance with the present invention, firearms embodying the improved receiver, actionslide assembly and means for manufacturing the same, provide reliable operation and relativelylow manufacturing costs, Moreover, the structure is designed for easy assembly and disassembly of the fore-end assembly and the trigger-plate and buttstock-unit.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of a firearm, the method of forming a receiver having a central chamber extending longitudinally thereof for accommodating a breech-bolt, and a pair of longitudinal guide-grooves in opposite sides respectively of said chamber for accommodating a pair of actionslides for reciprocating the breech-bolt in the chamber of the receiver, said method comprising the steps of: boring a pair of longitudinal apertures through a substantially-solid receiver-blank, said apertures being in spaced substantially-parallel relationship and displaced laterally of the longitudinal axis of said receiver-blank, forming a longitudinal bore through said receiver-blank adjacent its top wall, symmetrical with the opposite sides thereof and out of engagement with said pair of apertures, and then forming a longitudinal channel in said receiver-blank coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof by milling a recess in said blank from the bottom thereof upwardly to intersect the bottom wall of said longitudinal bore thereby to form a chamber in said receiver to accommodate said breech-bolt, and simultaneously to intersect the inner wall of each of said longitudinal apertures to form a pair of action-slide guide-grooves communicating laterally with said chamber, each of said guide-grooves corresponding in cross section substantially to the cross section of its respective action-slide.

2. In the manufacture of a firearm, the method of forming a receiver having a central chamber extending longitudinally thereof for accommodating a breech-bolt, a pair of longitudinal coupling-grooves in opposite sides respectively of the chamber for assembling a trigger-plate on the receiver, and a pair of longitudinal guide-grooves in opposite sides respectively of said chamber for accommodating a pair of action-slides for reciprocating the breech-bolt in the chamber of said receiver, said method comprising the steps of: boring a pair of longitudinal apertures through a substantially-solid receiver-blank, said apertures being in spaced substantially-parallel relationship and displaced laterally of the longitudinal axis of said receiver-blank, forming a longitudinal bore through said receiver-blank adjacent its top Wall, symmetrical with the opposite sides thereof and out of engagement with said pair of apertures, and then forming a longitudinal channel in said receiver-blank coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof by milling a recess in said blank from the bottom thereof upwardly to intersect the bottom wall of said longitudinal bore thereby to form a chamber in said receiver to accommodate both said breech-bolt and said trigger-plate, and simultaneously to intersect the inner wall of each of said longitudinal apertures to form a pair of action-slide guide-grooves communicating laterally with said chamber, each of said guide-grooves corresponding in cross section substantially to the cross section of its respective action-slide, and

then milling a longitudinal groove on the inside of each wall of said chamber, each groove being beneath the guide-groove in the corresponding side of said receiver and extending from the rear end thereof forwardly substantially one-half the length of said chamber for detachably connecting said trigger-plate thereto.

CARL G. SWEBILIUS.

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